Emery W Berghorn

Tec-4 Emery William Berghorn was working as a mechanic for White Motor Company in Chicago, Illinois when he received his Army induction notice in January 1942, at age 30. He was inducted into the Army in Chicago on May 29th, 1942 and was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for basic training. Upon completion of basic training he was sent to Camp Shanks, New York from where he shipped out for Greenock, Scotland, on October 5th, 1942 on board the SS Queen Elizabeth arriving on October 12th, 1942.

Emery departed for Algiers, Algeria on November 25th, 1942 and shortly after arrival on December 1st, 1942, he was assigned as a motor mechanic to the maintenance section Hqs & HQs Battery, 26th Field Artillery Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division. He participated in the fighting in Tunisia in March and April of 1943 at El Guettar and in the Sedjenane Valley. On July 15th, 1942, he landed at Licata in Sicily as part of the 39th Combat Team. During July and August he took part in the fighting on that island including the major battles at Randazzo and Troina.

On November 11th, 1943, the 26th Field Artillery Battalion departed Sicily on board the troopship “Hawaiian Shipper”, arriving at Greenock Scotland on November 27th, 1943. As part of the first D-Day follow-up wave Emery landed in France at Utah Beach on the 10th of June, 1944, D-Day + 4, still with the 26th Field Artillery Battalion. He then participated in the fighting in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe Campaigns in France, Belgium and Germany.

Emery Berghorn sitting on the fender of the weapons carrier of the wire section of HQs Battery, 26th Field Artillery. This photo was taken in July or August 1944 in France. Note the .45 pistol he is carrying.

Emery departed Europe from Marseilles in France on September 23rd, 1945, on board the troopship “Sea Robin”. He then arrived in the port of New York on October 2nd, 1945. He was separated from the Army on October 10th, 1945 at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and returned to the family farm at Crystal Lake, Illinois.

On December 5th, 2005, Emery Berghorn passed away at the age of 93.
He is buried in Section 54, Grave 7 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Emery Berghorn and his final resting place at Fort Logan

Tec-4 Emery W. “Hank” Berghorn held the Mechanics & Drivers Badge, five Overseas Service Bars, the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal with seven Campaign Stars.

Emery Berghorn pictured in Germany

I have visited some of the places in the Hurtgen Forest where Tec-4 Berghorn was stationed during the battle, and it was very special to walk around there. His son Claude was named after one of Emery’s war buddies, and we have become good friends over the years. Claude is a big help in the research for my book. Emery Berghorn has become a big inspiration to me as well, and has a very special place in my heart. He will never be forgotten.